The Chillicothe High School Marching Hornets are preparing for their 2013 debut tomorrow night (Friday) during the first home football game of the season against the Kirksville Tigers.

Director Sarah Cavanah said the 80-member band is ready to take the field.

"We feel very prepared this time," Cavanah said. "Last year, we had three days of school, and then we had a game Friday night. This year, we're actually able to put on a little bit more of a show than we normally do for our first home game. We're looking forward to it."

Cavanah said some of that preparedness comes from the more than 20 hours of work the band put in during summer camps in July.

"Our camp total time was about 24 hours of practice before the first day of school," Cavanah explained.

The theme for this year's show centers around the music of Les Misérables, the Broadway musical turned movie.

"Since the movie just came out, we hoped a lot of people will know the music since it was so popular," Cavanah said.

The band's first competition of the season will be the Carrollton Band Day on Saturday, Sept. 28.

"Our flag corp and twirlers will are also doing an indoor competition that day, as well as possibly the drumline, " Cavanah said. "The eighth grade marches at that, and so does the high school band. As far as we know, it's the largest marching band competition in the state."

This season, proceeds from food and merchandise will go to support the Marching Hornets.

"Jeff Frampton and Hy-Vee Smokehouse will be cooking out at the games, as usual, but the profits will go to benefit the band," Cavanah explained. "We also have a brand new deal called the Hornets' Nest. It's Hornets apparel that is exclusive that you can only get through the Hornets' Nest at the games and proceeds will go to the Marching Hornets."